medicalhttp://www.maclife.com/taxonomy/term/4098/all
enSpring Forward Event: Apple Announces Open-Source 'ResearchKit' for Medical Researchhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/spring_forward_event_apple_announces_opensource_researchkit_medical_research
<!--paging_filter--><p>Apple's now apparently confident enough about the Health capabilities of iOS 8 to pay it more than cursory attention, and as such, Jeff Williams, Apple's senior vice president of operations, took the stage to talk about it for several minutes. Williams took the occasion to announce ResearchKit, which will allow Apple to actively help with medical research.</p><p>ResearchKit will kick off with five apps specifically targeted at diseases such as Parkinson's. The apps are available today.</p><p>"Now anybody with an iPhone can contribute to Parkinson's research," Williams said.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/03/researchkit.png" width="620" height="352" /></p><p>The apps use the iPhone's existing capabilities to help with the research. Say "ahhh" into the microphone, for instance, and the app will detect tremors in your voice. Walk around, and it'll measure your gait. And if you're interested in seeing how your progress is going rather than passively getting involved in the study, the apps produce graphs that show things like "tremor severity" and "activity level."</p><p>Peripheral tools also come into play, though: for instance, researchers monitoring asthma will be able to use Bluetooth inhalers with the service.</p><p>Privacy is of course a concern, and Apple says that it won't be looking at any of the related data (which is opt-in only)--only researchers will. The service will thus allow researchers to create their own opt-in research surveys, and to make matters easier, Apple says the software behind ResearchKit will be open source.</p><p>"This is exactly where medicine is going," said one doctor in an followup video from Apple. "It has to."</p><p>Cook took the stage to talk about the new MacBook afterward, but managed to say one more thing about ResearchKit: "This is going to change medical research in a way that's truly profound and we're proud to be a part of it."</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/spring_forward_event_apple_announces_opensource_researchkit_medical_research#commentsNewsiOS 8iPadiphonemedicalResearchKitMon, 09 Mar 2015 17:38:29 +0000Leif Johnson21387 at http://www.maclife.comNew App Recap 12/1/14: Mega Photo, FingerKey, and more!http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/new-app-recap-12114-mega-photo-fingerkey
<!--paging_filter-->http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/new-app-recap-12114-mega-photo-fingerkey#commentsGalleryAppLifeAppsfamilyiOSmedicalPhotosscreenshotssocial networkingTouch IDtraveliPadiPhoneiPodMon, 01 Dec 2014 23:06:36 +0000J.R. Bookwalter21012 at http://www.maclife.comGroup Hopes to Use iPhones to Help Wipe Out Malaria on Indonesian Islandhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/group_hopes_use_iphones_help_wipe_out_malaria_indonesian_island
<!--paging_filter--><p>At this rate, owning an iDevice might be as essential to being a successful doctor as possessing a degree. Only a day after a British hospital reported that its <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/british_hospital_switches_idevices_patient_monitoring_claims_lower_mortality_rate" target="_blank">practice of using iPad and iPods</a> to monitor patents' health had led to lower mortality rates, a <a href="https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/end-malaria-on-bangka-island-indonesia" target="_blank">new crowd-funded project</a>&nbsp;has popped up on IndieGogo claiming that Apple's iPhone might be able to help wipe out malaria on the Indonesian island of Bangka.</p><p>The team, known as IanXen, plans to use Bangka as a testing ground of sorts before tackling more ambitious projects over in Africa. The team will use a IanXen RAPID kit that will outfit an iPhone with a portable microscope, a lancet pen, and blood slides, thus allowing them to use the microscope to examine the slides with a microscope and make diagnoses within five seconds. The key attraction of the process is that it's relatively cheap, and could therefore make more headway in regions ravaged by malaria than conventional equipment.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/07/sample_0.jpg" width="620" height="346" /></p><p>According to the project's IndieGogo page, "3.3 billion people live at risk of malaria across 106 malaria-endemic countries. Although the risk is widespread, cases and deaths are concentrated in Africa. In 2010, over 80 percent of 216 million estimated cases and over 90 percent of 655,000 estimated deaths occurred in Africa. Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment are the cornerstones of malaria case management; patients recover rapidly if diagnosed and treated early."</p><p>Sound like a cause worth fighting for? You can help out the team with a starting donation of £5 ($8.50), which will net you a mention on the project's Twitter feed. You can, of course, donate even more.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/group_hopes_use_iphones_help_wipe_out_malaria_indonesian_island#commentsNewsAfricacrowd-fundedindiegogoIndonesiaiOS 7iphoneMalariamedicalTue, 29 Jul 2014 22:36:26 +0000Leif Johnson20390 at http://www.maclife.comBritish Hospital Switches to iDevices for Patient Monitoring, Claims Lower Mortality Ratehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/british_hospital_switches_idevices_patient_monitoring_claims_lower_mortality_rate
<!--paging_filter--><p>Over in the United Kingdom, the word is that iPads and iPods are saving lives. Not through the power of their magic Apple logo, of course — as doctors and nurses Middlesbrough’s James Cook University Hospital claim (via the <a href="http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/hospital-workers-using-ipods-ipads-7517542#SendAStory" target="_blank"><em>Gazette Live</em></a>), the Cupertino company's easily portable units allow the hospital to sideline the hassle of paper notes and focus on the information that demands immediate attention.</p><p>Using the iPod touch, for instance, medical personnel can monitor their patients' health through the help of specialized apps that produce immediate reports on a person's vitals and deliver alerts if something seems awry. The staff at the hospital also use networked iPads to check on each patient.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/07/cook.jpg" width="620" height="412" /></p><p><strong>Via <a href="http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/parking-charges-james-cook-university-6878034" target="_blank">Gazette Live</a></strong></p><p>"The key benefits of the system is the more rapid identification of deteriorating patients which in pilot sites has led to a reduction in hospital and critical care length of stay and a reduction in mortality — all of which are a huge benefit to both patients and clinicians," said Tricia Hart, the head of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.</p><p>Even more remarkable, the hospital is reporting such success just a few weeks after the program launched on June 23. The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust obtained £1 million ($1.69m) for the project in March, and the use of Apple's devices at James Cook marks only the first step in a much wider adoption of the project throughout Britain.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/british_hospital_switches_idevices_patient_monitoring_claims_lower_mortality_rate#commentsNewshealthcarehospitalsiOS 7iPadiPodmedicalMon, 28 Jul 2014 23:00:41 +0000Leif Johnson20384 at http://www.maclife.comThe Week's 10 Hottest Apple News Stories, May 9http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/weeks_10_hottest_apple_news_stories_may_9
<!--paging_filter--><p>With the exception of a puny patent battle award, the news is all good for Apple this week. So if you missed any of the goodness, check out these stories from this week's harvest of Apple stories. While you're at it, you can check out Mother's Day gallery of apps to help make sure you give mom a treat this weekend.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/gallery/weeks_10_hottest_apple_news_stories_may_9#commentsGalleryNewsmedicalrecapretailerSamsungTouch IDtrialiPadGamesSat, 10 May 2014 00:15:45 +0000J Keirn-Swanson19926 at http://www.maclife.comApp Reportedly Screens for Skin Cancer Almost as Accurately as Specialist Dermatologistshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/app_reportedly_screens_skin_cancer_almost_accurately_specialist_dermatologists
<!--paging_filter--><p>The word on the street is that the next iPhone and iOS 8 will boast a heavy <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/iphone_iwatch_will_allegedly_work_together_strong_health_focus_ios_8" target="_blank">emphasis on health</a>, but a new report from the<a href="http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2014/May/0506ZouridakisDermoScope.php" target="_blank"> University of Houston</a> (via <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/05/08/iphone-app-screens-for-skin-cancer-more-accurately-than-your-doctor-shows-early-testing/" target="_blank"><em>9to5Mac</em></a>) shows that you achieve some impressive medical feats with the existing models. According to the study, a researcher from the university developed an app that can detect melanoma with an accuracy rate of 85 percent based on early tests.</p><p>That's reportedly the accuracy rate that's more or less standard for dermatologists who specialize in the detection of the deadly form of skin cancer, and it's substantially higher than the rate for primary doctors. Called DermoScreen, the app itself was created by George Zouridakis, a professor of engineering technology at&nbsp;the university.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2014/05/derm.jpg" width="620" height="360" /></p><p><strong>Source: <a href="http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2014/May/0506ZouridakisDermoScope.php" target="_blank">University of Houston</a></strong></p><p>Unfortunately, you'll need more than the app to identify the affliction as DermoScreen requires a $500 dermoscope, a magnifying lens, and light to work properly. If you can work around those hurdles, however, using the app is simply a matter of attaching the apparatus to the back of your phone and taking a photo of a threatening mole or lesion. The device can then determine whether the mole is cancerous within a matter of seconds.</p><p>That's important since melanoma is responsible for around three-fourths of all deaths from skin cancer. It can quickly get out of control if it's not caught at an early stage, but treatment reportedly has a high success rate if it's caught early. Apps like this could put the relevant technology into the hands of a wider range of doctors, which could especially be helpful for citizens of rural areas.</p><p>The app is currently undergoing further testing at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. <em>9to5Mac</em> notes that a<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2014/03/17/stanford-university-develops-90-iphone-accessory-to-replace-ophthalmology-kit-costing-tens-of-thousands/" target="_blank"> similar form</a> of iPhone-based technology was developed for eye doctors back in March, replacing tens of thousands of dollars' worth of equipment with a $90 iPhone accessory.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">&nbsp;Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/app_reportedly_screens_skin_cancer_almost_accurately_specialist_dermatologists#commentsNewscancerdermatologyHealthiOS 7iphonemedicalThu, 08 May 2014 23:49:36 +0000Leif Johnson19920 at http://www.maclife.comSurgeon Simulator Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/surgeon_simulator_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Getting a major surgical procedure is serious business. Most folks don't want to think about all of the crazy things that can potentially go wrong, but Surgeon Simulator mines this common source of anxiety for comedic gold by cooking up outrageous what-if scenarios that are equal parts horrifying and hilarious. Imagine getting a heart transplant or tooth extraction from someone who has no clue what he or she is doing—that's the order of the day in this malpractice-prone operating room, except you're the one with the scalpel, bone saw, and needles. The promise of catastrophic failure is indeed a huge part of the messy fun.</p><p>Performing complicated surgeries with zero skill makes for plenty of gory hijinks in this bizarre iPad pseudo-sim. Surgeon Simulator's touch controls and physics are intentionally awkward, making your task as challenging as possible. That's all by design. Manipulating dangerous tools and sensitive medical equipment in time-sensitive operations typically devolves into silly chaos when blood, organs, and implements are flying everywhere due to your inept handiwork. While the objective in each operation is to complete the procedure while keeping your patients alive, their respective long-term prognoses rarely look good by the time you're done butchering them.</p><p><img src="/files/u338318/2014/03/surgeon6.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>The sheer outrageousness of every gross ER situation you're thrust into provides much of Surgeon Simulator's slapstick charm. Humor is a high point, but it's not always enough to carry the experience. Whether you're doing a heart transplant, eye surgery, DIY dentistry, or a kidney procedure, the lack of precision can get frustrating when playing the same stages over and over. Imprecision is the point, really, but the goofiness that plays out can get stale when you've already fiddled around with the same few operations a half-dozen times each.</p><p>Also, we experienced a significant audio issue while testing the game on an iPad 2, which is listed as a compatible device. We only heard a small portion of the game’s sound effects with no music at all, and other iPad 2 and first-gen iPad mini users are reporting similar problems in App Store reviews. However, we tried the game on an iPad Air and did not encounter the same issue, so your experience may vary—though older hardware seems the likely culprit here.</p><p><strong>The bottom line.</strong> Surgeon Simulator is full of gags and funny moments that are bound to make you laugh out loud, and the intentional wonky controls ramp up the crazy shenanigans. Bizarreness burns brightly in this silly sim, but its humor doesn't always translate into lasting fun.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/surgeon-simulator/id814977594?mt=8" target="_blank">Surgeon Simulator 1.0</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Bossa Studios </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://www.surgeonsim.com" target="_blank">www.surgeonsim.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
$5.99 </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPad running iOS 6.0 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Hilarious and gross operation-room antics. Great visual presentation and physics. Lots of humor woven throughout the game's design.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Gameplay is pretty limited. Challenge borders on frustrating in some operations. Audio issues on older iPad models.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/surgeon_simulator_review#commentsGalleryReviewsapp store reviewsAppLifeAppsGamesHumormedicalParodysimulationSoftwareSurgeon SimulatorsurgeryiPadTue, 18 Mar 2014 20:21:25 +0000Nathan Meunier19576 at http://www.maclife.comGerman Doctors Complete Liver Surgery with Help of iPad Apphttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/german_doctors_complete_liver_surgery_help_ipad_app
<!--paging_filter--><p>Have an M.D. with surgical training and want to operate on someone's liver? Don't worry--there's an app for that. (Forgive me, I couldn't resist.) Reuters recently reported that a German doctor used an augmented reality app for Apple's beloved tablet to complete a surgery, marking one of the first times that the iPad's ever been used in such a manner.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2013/08/ipad-surgery.jpg" width="620" height="372" /></p><p>According to Reuters' brief release, "The tablet uses augmented reality, which allows the liver to be filmed with an iPad and overlaid during an operation with virtual 3D models reconstructed from the real organ." In other words, they took a MRI scan of the liver prior to surgery and then took a photo of it with the iPad, and the app overlaid the images to help the surgeons identify what they were looking for, resulting in a much more efficient procedure.</p><p>Fraunhofer MEVIS in Bremen, Germany developed the app, which helps the surgeons locate tumors and vessels before performing surgery. In this case, the process was successful, and the developers hope that this and similar apps will ease the process of transitioning from pre-op to surgery. In time, they hope the procedure can be used to remove tumors from other organs.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2013/08/ipad-surgery2.jpg" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>Based on the description, the process sounds as though it could eventually be improved through the patent for 3D manipulation <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_receives_patent_3d_gestures_touchscreen_devices" target="_blank">that Apple recently filed</a>. As <a href="http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/08/21/doctor-completes-liver-surgery-with-aid-of-ipad-augmented-reality-app" target="_blank">AppleInsider </a>notes, iPads are already popular with medical professionals, and such procedures could point the way toward even better uses for Apple's tablet.</p><p>Want to see photos of the actual procedure? Visit <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/photos/first-liver-surgery-with-tablet-computer-in-germany-1377012814-slideshow/" target="_blank">Reuters' gallery here</a>, although be warned, it's not for the squeamish. No word on what the augmented reality app's actually called.</p><p><em> Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/german_doctors_complete_liver_surgery_help_ipad_app#commentsNews3DAugmented RealitydoctorsiOSiPadmedicalMRIradiologysurgeryThu, 22 Aug 2013 23:01:14 +0000Leif Johnson17851 at http://www.maclife.comAmateur Surgeon 3 Reviewhttp://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/amateur_surgeon_3_review
<!--paging_filter--><p>Getting any serious medical procedure done can be a terrifying experience, and we can only imagine what goes on once you're put under on the operating table. While Amateur Surgeon 3 taps into our worst surgical nightmares in horrifying ways, it's as hilarious as it is grotesque. Removing organs with a chainsaw and pizza cutter, suturing cuts with an office stapler, and cauterizing wounds with a Zippo? That's par for the course with this wildly imaginative and comical – if somewhat gross – take on pressure-cooker medical mini-game scenarios.<br /><br />Spanning a wacky campaign that puts you in the scrubs as Ophelia Payne, Amateur Surgeon 3 has you gallivanting around to a prison, jungle, and beyond to help random weirdoes with truly bizarre health emergencies. Each peculiar encounter pits you against the clock and your patient's failing life meter, as you work to operate on each without sending them to the grave. Procedures are multi-step affairs, and the game throws plenty of silly surprises at you to ratchet up the pressure. Hissing serpents protruding from organs, dismembered limbs that need to be replaced, and fire-breathing gastrointestinal bug infestations are just a few of the crazy obstacles you'll face.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/files/u325188/2013/08/screen_11.png" width="620" height="465" /></p><p>The fresh tag team aspect helps provide extra balance and incentive to perform well. A wide range of kooky partners is available, and you can call them in to help save the day in oddball, but crucial ways at sporadic intervals. Like much of the content in this newly free-to-play franchise, unlocking tag team pals and upgrading your tools is a slow process. In-app purchases aren't so aggressive that they kill the fun, thankfully, and you can progress without spending a dime if you choose.<br /><br />With laugh-out-loud characters that spew outlandish quips, an inventive story full of unexpected scenarios, and entertaining operation-centric gameplay, Amateur Surgeon 3 proves a ton of fun to play, even as a free-to-play affair.<br /><strong><br />The bottom line</strong>. If comical medical insanity and gutsy operations don't gross you out, this silly surgeon simulation will tickle your funny bone for hours on end.</p><fieldset class="fieldgroup group-the-bottom-line"><legend>Review Synopsis</legend><div class="field field-type-text field-field-product">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Product:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/amateur-surgeon-3/id601538051?mt=8" target="_blank">Amateur Surgeon 3 1.0.2</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-company">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Company:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Adult Swim </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-contact">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Contact:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p><a href="http://games.adultswim.com" target="_blank">http://games.adultswim.com</a></p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-price">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Price:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
Free </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-requirements">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Requirements:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch running iOS 4.2 or later</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-positives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Positives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Hilarious characters and encounters. Tag team element adds to gameplay. Fresh operation scenarios filled with icky surprises.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="field field-type-text field-field-negatives">
<div class="field-label"><p><strong>Negatives:</strong>&nbsp;<p></div>
<div class="field-items">
<div class="field-item odd">
<!--paging_filter--><p>Can take a long time to unlock features and upgrade weapons.</p> </div>
</div>
</div>
</fieldset>
http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/amateur_surgeon_3_review#commentsGalleryReviewsactionAdult SwimAmateur surgeonapp store reviewsAppLifecomedyDoctordramaGamesgamesHumoriPadiPhone and iPod AppsmedicalreviewsSoftwaresoftwaresurgeryiPadiPhoneiPodTue, 13 Aug 2013 19:54:50 +0000Nathan Meunier17761 at http://www.maclife.comFoxconn Reveals iOS-Compatible Smart Wristbandhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/foxconn_reveals_ioscompatible_smart_wristband
<!--paging_filter--><p>An Apple-produced smartwatch may still exist only in the realm of rumor, but that isn't stopping third-party manufacturers from producing iOS-compatible smartwatches of their own. Enter Foxconn's smart wristband. According to the <a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130627000079&amp;cid=1206" target="_blank">Want China Times</a>, the iOS-compatible machine can measure your heartbeat and respiration, in addition to checking phone calls and making Facebook posts.</p><p>Foxconn's smartwatch thus largely seems designed for health or medical purposes; indeed, it even gives you tips on how to stay healthy if your vital signs aren't where they should be. As such, it almost seems like an advanced <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/nike_fuelband_will_remain_ios_exclusive" target="_blank">Nike FuelBand.</a> During today's shareholder meeting at Hon Hai Precision Industry (Foxconn's Taiwanese parent company), company leader Terry Gou also announced that Foxconn's looking for ways to incorporate fingerprint detection into the design, specifically for the purpose of recording health data.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2013/06/smartwristband.jpg" width="620" height="409" /></p><p><strong>Image Source: <a href="http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130627000079&amp;cid=1206" target="_blank">Want China Times</a></strong></p><p>It's not quite the Dick Tracy-styled gadget some of you have been hoping for, and it certainly doesn't come close to the complexity of <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/sony_unveils_androidpowered_waterresistant_smartwatch_2" target="_blank">Sony's Android-powered SmartWatch</a> that we discussed earlier this week. But it's a start, right?</p><p>We know that Apple's working on a smartwatch of some sort, especially after a report surfaced in the <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/disruptions-apple-is-said-to-be-developing-a-curved-glass-smart-watch/?_r=0" target="_blank">New York Times</a> back in February that mentioned Apple's experiments with curved glass. Not long after, <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-12/apple-said-to-have-team-developing-wristwatch-computer.html" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a> followed up with news that 100 product designers at Apple were working on developing a smartwatch. Alas, Apple didn't reveal anything about the product during WWDC.</p><p><em> Follow this article's writer, <a href="https://twitter.com/LeifJohnson" target="_blank">Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/foxconn_reveals_ioscompatible_smart_wristband#commentsNewsFoxconnHon Hai Precision Industrymedicalsmartwatchsmartwristbandvital signswristbandFri, 28 Jun 2013 01:03:17 +0000Leif Johnson17394 at http://www.maclife.comNew iOS Apps: Mini Display, Mail Pilot, Simplee, Documents for iPhonehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/new_ios_apps_mini_display_mail_pilot_simplee_documents_iphone
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/mini_display_200px.jpg" alt="Mini Display" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Every week, a veritable flood of new or updated iOS apps hit Apple's servers -- and this week is no exception, with new offerings to extend your Mac desktop, tackle medical bills or turn your email inbox into a virtual to-do list.<br /><br /><a href="http://edovia.com/minidisplay/" target="_blank">Edovia has announced</a> the release of <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mini-display/id626808879?mt=8" target="_blank">Mini Display</a>, a new $12.99 universal app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad which works in conjunction with free OS X software to extend your Mac's desktop onto an iOS device.<br /><br />While it's not the first such app to hit the App Store, Mini Display comes from a good pedigree: Edovia is also the creator of Screens for iOS and Mac as well as TouchPad, which turns an iOS device into a handy trackpad.<br /><br />If you have $14.99 lying around to replace the built-in iOS Mail app, Mindsense LLC has also released <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/US/app/id616785421?mt=8&amp;ign-mpt=uo%3D4" target="_blank">Mail Pilot</a>, a universal email client with a unique twist: It displays your inbox as a to-do list, allowing emails to have a due date attached to them and even be marked when that task is completed.<br /><br />If you've got medical bills to pay and prefer to tackle them on your iPhone, Simplificare has just what the doctor ordered with the free <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/simplee/id602746813?mt=8" target="_blank">Simplee</a> app. Coupled with the company's online service, consumers can now manage health care expenses on the go, including paying any provider, tracking payment history and accessing medical plan coverage.<br /><br />Last but not least, Readdle has announced that its free <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/documents-by-readdle/id364901807?mt=8" target="_blank">Documents</a> app has finally come to the iPhone as a universal update to the existing iPad app. The update is now live on the App Store, so get downloading!<br /><br />Which one(s) will you be downloading today?<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/new_ios_apps_mini_display_mail_pilot_simplee_documents_iphone#commentsNewsDocumentsEdoviaexpensesiOS appsiPhone appsmail pilotmedicalMini DisplayreaddleSimpleeUniversal AppsiPadiPhoneiPodThu, 11 Apr 2013 13:21:09 +0000J.R. Bookwalter16705 at http://www.maclife.comIs It Contagious? Find Out with KidsHealth’s New iPhone Apphttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/it_contagious_find_out_kidshealth%E2%80%99s_new_iphone_app
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/is_it_contagious_app_200px.png" alt="Is It Contagious? app" width="200" height="150" class="graphic-right" />Parents are always worried about the health and welfare of their little ones, but it’s not always easy to get the right information when the kids get sick. That’s why KidsHealth has introduced a new free iPhone app that asks the simple question: Is It Contagious?<br /><br /><a href="http://kidshealth.org/" target="_blank">KidsHealth has announced</a> the debut of a new, free iPhone app for parents that promises to uncloak the mystery next time your child gets sick. <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fis-it-contagious%252Fid450495091%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&quot; target=&quot;itunes_store&quot;&gt;Is It Contagious?" target="_blank">Is It Contagious?</a> is the latest product from the largest provider of online and video content about children’s health and development, featuring more than 85 infections and illnesses while answering the most common questions all parents might ask.<br /><br />How does it work? Fire up the Is It Contagious? app and parents will be able to quickly identify and assess the contagiousness, symptoms, treatment and prevention of the most common childhood conditions. The app provides clear, easy to understand guidance including an A to Z conditions library, information on how to treat symptoms and an image gallery of photo-realistic illustrations as they appear in children.<br /><br />“KidsHealth has always provided the most up-to-date doctor-approved children’s health information on the web,” says Dr. Neil Izenberg, Founder and Chief Executive of Nemours’ KidsHealth.org. “Is It Contagious? is the next step toward expanding our reach with parents both online and off.”<br /><br /><a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=ApuPaiKIpxg&amp;offerid=146261&amp;type=3&amp;subid=0&amp;tmpid=1826&amp;RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fitunes.apple.com%252Fus%252Fapp%252Fis-it-contagious%252Fid450495091%253Fmt%253D8%2526uo%253D4%2526partnerId%253D30&quot; target=&quot;itunes_store&quot;&gt;Is It Contagious?" target="_blank">Is It Contagious?</a> is available now on the App Store; the free app is a 13.7MB download compatible with any iPhone, iPod touch or iPad running iOS 4.2 or later.<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em></p><p>&nbsp;</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/it_contagious_find_out_kidshealth%E2%80%99s_new_iphone_app#commentsNewsApp StoredatabaseHealthKidsKidsHealthmedicalparentssearchwellnessiPadiPhoneiPodWed, 27 Jul 2011 12:13:58 +0000J.R. Bookwalter11828 at http://www.maclife.comDoctors Using iPads Down Under? Diagnosis: Awesome!http://www.maclife.com/article/news/doctors_using_ipads_down_under_diagnosis_awesome
<!--paging_filter--><p><img src="/files/u220903/doctor_with_ipad_380px.jpg" alt="Doctor using iPad" width="380" height="290" /><br /><em>(Image courtesy of 9to5Mac)</em><br /><br />If you live in the land down under, your next visit to a doctor may very well include some time with Apple’s iPad, as doctors in the Australian state of Victoria will now be packing everyone’s favorite mobile tablet.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.9to5mac.com/34699/australian-doctors-get-the-ipad-habit-as-apple-world-grows" target="_blank">9to5Mac is reporting</a> that Australia’s medical community is a hotbed of iPad activity, thanks to Premier John Brumby, a Labor Party politician for the state of Victoria. The Premier “plans to provide iPads to all the doctors working in Australia’s public health system,” with 500 units heading to Victorian hospitals in January, 2011.<br /><br />“As technology evolves, so do the tools that our doctors need,” <a href="http://thenextweb.com/au/2010/11/09/australian-state-government-promises-ipads-for-doctors/?" target="_blank">Premier Brumby explained</a>. “We will provide $12 million to buy iPads for every doctor working in Victoria’s public hospital system, so they have easy access to time-critical clinical information at a patient’s bedside.”<br /><br />This isn’t the first time that Premier Brumby has put iPads in the hands of his constituents -- earlier this year the government bought over 500 iPads for Victorian schools, and the state of Victoria “has also created a Government 2.0 action plan and set up an interactive eGovernment website to allow participation and interaction with Victorian residents.”<br /><br />With the iPad currently enjoying 95 percent of the tablet market, the device is finally enjoying widespread use in corporate, enterprise and medical industries -- not to mention the millions of regular folks who can’t live without theirs.<br /><br />So when will we start seeing iPads in widespread use here in the United States? Diagnosis: Uncertain, but we can still dream, can’t we…?<br /><br /><em>Follow this article’s author, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/JRBTempe" target="_blank">J.R. Bookwalter on Twitter</a></em><br /><br /><br /></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/doctors_using_ipads_down_under_diagnosis_awesome#commentsNewsenterprisesGovernmentiPadmedicaliPadTue, 09 Nov 2010 14:17:46 +0000J.R. Bookwalter8864 at http://www.maclife.comCould iStethoscopes Replace Real Stethoscopeshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/could_istethoscopes_replace_real_stethoscopes
<!--paging_filter--><p>It's gotten to the point of almost corny when you hear the familiar phrase "there's an app for that." Whether used for GPS or as an e-reader, a camera or a video editor, it seems our smartphones are getting smarter every day. They save our lives, as a man <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/iphone_saves_man_trapped_haitian_rubble">trapped in Haitian rubble</a> discovered earlier this year. And, they're becoming <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/doctors_use_facetime_medical_consultation">medical devices</a> too.<br /><br />Peter Bentley, we learn via Great Britain's <em>Telegraph</em> newspaper, <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/7971950/iPhone-app-to-replace-the-stethoscope.html">has created an app</a>, iStethoscope, that uses the iPhone's microphone to listen to your heart. Simply press the microphone just under your left nipple and be sure to use a pair of high quality earphones. (Bentley's instructions quite specifically dog on Apple's low quality white headphones -- and for good reason.)</p><p><img src="/files/u124583/my_tell-tale_heart.png" alt="the author, beating it" width="320" height="480" /></p><p><strong>Image Source: The article author's chest</strong></p><p><strong><br /></strong></p><p>According to the <em>Telegraph</em> article in question, "millions of doctors across the world" are downloading the app, at a rate of about 500 per day. The app comes in both <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/istethoscope-free/id383008092?mt=8">a free</a> and <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/istethoscope-pro/id322110006?mt=8">professional version</a> ($0.99 in the States). We tried out the free version and were surprised to hear our heart so well. There are a few differing settings to filter the levels of background noise, though we never noticed the difference between them. Users can also playback the last eight seconds of their heart on a phonocardiograph with spectrogram showing off their heartbeats.<br /><br />While the app in question seems like a fun device and would be handy to have around in an emergency, it just seems unlikely to us that millions of doctors are going to want to press their iPhones against the chests of random patients then later hold the same phone up to their faces. Combined with a good quality microphone/headphone combination, however, this app could certainly take off.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/could_istethoscopes_replace_real_stethoscopes#commentsNewsAppsiphoneiPhone appsmedicaliPhoneListenTue, 31 Aug 2010 16:35:23 +0000J Keirn-Swanson8095 at http://www.maclife.comThis iPhone App May Save Your Lifehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/iphone_app_may_save_your_life
<!--paging_filter--><img alt="Allscripts Remote" class="graphic-right" height="189" src="/files/u187799/Allscripts_lg.jpg" title="Allscripts Remote" width="375" />
<p><a href="http://www.forbes.com/2009/11/16/iphone-healthcare-mobile-technology-internet-allscripts.html?partner=ecommerce_newsletter" target="_blank">Forbes
reports</a> that a new iPhone application called Allscripts Remote might just
save your life. The app interfaces with Allscripts server software providing
wireless access to real-time patient information, as well as communication with
emergency rooms, and the ability to wire prescriptions directly to pharmacies. </p>
<p>According to Allscripts CEO Glen Tullman, the Institute of
Medicine says “each year 7000 Americans die and almost a million and a half
Americans are injured because of preventable medication errors that could have
been prevented with an electronic system.”</p>
<p>Dr. Richard Levine is testing the system and appreciates the
fact that “this system will give me pop-up warnings if the patient has
allergies and I’ve inadvertently prescribed the wrong drug, or if I’ve prescribed
something that interacts with another medication.” He also said the fact the he
no longer carries a prescription pad was “a real WOW factor.”</p>
<p>The software is still in test mode as they verify that the
system meets all the HIPAA Act privacy regulations. More than 100 medical
groups around the country are already participating in the test. Of course the
system has advantages beyond error prevention. According to the <a href="http://www.allscripts.com/products/remote/" target="_blank">Allscripts site</a>, “difficult
medical decisions that need to be made while out of the office, at the
hospital, on call or on personal time can be made more effectively – thus
helping providers take control of their time.” In other words, you have the information
you need at your fingertips to make critical decisions and prescribe treatments while waiting your turn
to putt. </p>
http://www.maclife.com/article/news/iphone_app_may_save_your_life#commentsNewsAllscriptsiphonemedicalpatient recordsComing SoonWed, 18 Nov 2009 22:19:40 +0000Brian Proffit5315 at http://www.maclife.com